Central tire inflation/deflation system with a timed function CTIS wheel valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10131192-B2
Application number	US-201515514105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2015
Priority date	Sep 26, 2014
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A central tire inflation/deflation system (CTIS) with a novel valve that may deflate more quickly and may deflate to a lower pressure than the previously known central tire inflation/deflation system valves. Also, the present valve may not be temperature sensitive, at least because the present valve does not require trapped air behind a diaphragm to operate the valve. The present valve may be placed into existing CTIS's in place of existing valves, without modifying pneumatic lines of the existing CTIS's. Thus, the present valve may be operated by a single fluid flow line, receive pressure from the single fluid flow line, and exhaust to the single fluid flow line. A second communication line, either a pneumatic pilot line or an electrical line, is not necessary, which allows the present valve to be retrofit into an existing CTIS without adding weight or complication from additional components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve for use in an inflation/deflation system, comprising:
a valve body having a first inlet/outlet port fluidly connectable to a second inlet/outlet port;
a valve member within the valve body for fluidly disconnecting the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port, the valve member being moveable from a first position to a second position; and
a damper operably connected to the valve member to dampen movement of the valve member from the second position to the first position;
wherein in a first state the first inlet/outlet port is fluidly disconnected from the second inlet/outlet port by the valve member;
wherein the valve would transition to a second state when a fluid pressure at the first inlet/outlet port is at or above a prescribed pressure threshold, when in the second state the first inlet/outlet port would be fluidly disconnected from the second inlet/outlet port;
wherein when the valve is in the second state, lowering the fluid pressure below the prescribed pressure threshold would cause the valve to transition from the second state to a third state; and
wherein when in the third state the first inlet/outlet port would be fluidly connected to the second inlet/outlet port while the damper would dampen movement of the valve member from the second position to the first position to maintain the valve in the third state for a prescribed period of time.

2. The valve of claim 1 , further comprising:
the valve body forming a primary chamber, the primary chamber being fluidly connectable to the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port;
the damper having a portion moveable from the first position to the second position by a first force, and moveable from the second position to the first position by a second force, wherein the first force is less than the second force;
the valve member extending along a central axis, and moveable within the primary chamber;
a timing resilient member biasing the valve member in a first axial direction to bias the valve member in the first position;
a reset member moveable within the primary chamber to move the valve member from the first position to the second position;
wherein when the valve member abuts the reset member the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port are fluidly disconnected;
wherein in the first state, the valve member and the reset member abut one another within a first portion of the primary chamber to fluidly disconnect the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port;
wherein in the second state, the valve member and the reset member abut one another within a second portion of the primary chamber, the second portion of the primary chamber being axially spaced in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction from the first portion of the primary chamber;
wherein in the third state, the valve member and the reset member are axially spaced from one another to allow fluid flow therebetween, thereby fluidly connecting the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port.

3. The valve of claim 2 , further comprising:
wherein the damper includes a timing piston moveable within a timing chamber, wherein the timing piston is moveable from the first position in the timing chamber to the second position in the timing chamber by the first force, and moveable from the second position to the first position by the second force;
wherein the valve member includes a poppet extending along the central axis, the poppet being moveable with the timing piston, and moveable within the timing chamber and the primary chamber, wherein the timing chamber is fluidly disconnected from the primary chamber;
wherein the timing resilient member biases the poppet and the timing piston in the first axial direction extending from the timing chamber to the primary chamber;
wherein the reset member includes a reset piston moveable within the primary chamber, the reset piston having a flow passage, wherein when the poppet abuts the reset piston the flow passage is fluidly disconnected from the second inlet/outlet port;
wherein when the poppet abuts the reset piston the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port are fluidly disconnected;
wherein in the first state, the poppet and the reset piston abut one another within the first portion of the primary chamber to fluidly disconnect the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port;
wherein in the second state, the poppet and the reset piston abut one another within the second portion of the primary chamber;
wherein in the third state, the poppet and the reset piston are axially spaced from one another to allow fluid flow therebetween, thereby fluidly connecting the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port.

4. The valve of claim 2 , wherein a reset piston includes a flow passage that extends away from a seat of the reset piston.

5. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the valve member includes a flow passage fluidly connected to a variable volume chamber formed by the valve member and the valve body.

6. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the valve further includes a reset resilient member that biases the reset member in the first axial direction.

7. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the damper further comprises a timing piston, a check valve for preventing fluid flow from a first portion of a timing chamber to a second portion of the timing chamber, and for allowing fluid flow from the second portion of the timing chamber to the first portion of the timing chamber.

8. The valve of claim 2 , further comprising a restrictive orifice for restricting fluid flow from a first portion of a timing chamber to a second portion of the timing chamber.

9. The valve of claim 2 , further comprising a quick close port to reduce fluid pressure in a first portion of a timing chamber as a timing piston reaches an end of its stroke while moving in the first axial direction.

10. The valve of claim 2 , wherein the damper further comprises a piezoelectric element that is operatively connected to the valve member to dampen closure of the valve member.

11. The valve of claim 10 , wherein the damper further comprises a resistor and a capacitor, wherein the resistor is connected in series with the piezoelectric member and the capacitor.

12. The valve of claim 1 , wherein the valve is open and remains open when the fluid pressure at the first inlet/outlet port is equal to ambient pressure.

13. The valve of claim 1 , wherein when the valve is in the second state and fluid pressure is below the prescribed threshold at the first inlet/outlet port, the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port become fluidly connected such that fluid is flowable from the second inlet/outlet port to the first inlet/outlet port in the third state.

14. The valve of claim 13 , wherein the valve is open and remains open for the prescribed period of time when an opening pressure below the prescribed threshold is provided to the first inlet/outlet port is reduced to 0.0 psig, thereby keeping the first inlet/outlet port and the second inlet/outlet port fluidly connected for the prescribed period of time without a control pressure.

15. A central inflation/deflation system for a vehicle, comprising:
the valve of claim 1 ;
a fluid reservoir fluidly connected to the second inlet/outlet port of the valve;
a control system fluidly connected to the first inlet/outlet port of the valve; and
a pressure source with an outlet fluidly connected to an inlet of the control system.

16. The central inflation/deflation system of cla

Assignees

• Parker Hannifin Corp

Inventors

• Jabcon Leonard Joseph
• Knepple Robert Brian
• Beverly James Alden
• Claussen Stephen P

Classifications

• F16K21/06

  in which the closing movement, either retarded or not, starts immediately after opening · CPC title

• B60C23/003 Primary

  comprising rotational joints between vehicle-mounted pressure sources and the tyres · CPC title

• B60C23/00372 Primary

  characterised by fluid diagrams · CPC title

• B60C23/00363

  Details of sealings · CPC title

• B60C23/00318

  on the wheels or the hubs · CPC title